So I just realized I haven’t written much about my adjustment to Singapore in general. For those who are following me on social media, I’m sure it seems that all I’ve been doing is wandering the city and eating and drinking (you are not far off!), but here are some quick bullets about what I’ve had to adjust to:

“Singlish.” I found this meme on Facebook last night which is actually hilariously accurate.

Metric system: when I speak in feet, miles, or degrees Fahrenheit I get looked at like an imbecile. Seriously, America…why do we do this???

People drive on the left side of the road. I keep looking the wrong way before I cross the street, but this is something I already got a taste of in my trip to London recently.

People stand on the left of the escalator and walk on the right (same story as previous bullet applies).

The heat…or the A/C, actually. Yes, Singapore is hot, but since the bus and MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) system is so well connected and air-conditioned, I rarely find myself dying in the heat. When I stop in a cafe or restaurant, it’s actually too cold sometimes and I welcome the heat when I step back outside.

“Singlish.” A few of you have been asking if it’s difficult to communicate with people. English is still the first language here, but locals have adopted what they call “Singlish.” It’s a particular accent/style and they have a few slang words that I’m still trying to get used to.

All in all - I have no real complaints so far. Of course, it’s only been a week and I’m still in “tourist mode,” but I’m sure I’ll hit some culture shock later down the road as this place slowly starts to feel more like home.